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| Hapless |
–adjective
unlucky; luckless; unfortunate.
—Synonyms miserable, woebegone, wretched, forlorn; pathetic, pitiable. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:15:20 GMT |
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| Abrogate |
–verb (used with object), -gat·ed, -gat·ing.
1. to abolish by formal or official means; annul by an authoritative act; repeal: to abrogate a law.
2. to put aside; put an end to.
—Synonyms 1. cancel, revoke, rescind, nullify, void, invalidate.
—Antonyms 1. ratify, establish; preserve. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:15:20 GMT |
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| burnish |
–verb (used with object)
1. to polish (a surface) by friction.
2. to make smooth and bright.
3. Engraving. to flatten and enlarge the dots of (a halftone) by rubbing with a tool.
–noun
4. gloss; brightness; luster: the burnish of brass andirons.
—Synonyms 1. buff, shine. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:15:20 GMT |
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| Noisome |
–adjective
1. offensive or disgusting, as an odor.
2. harmful or injurious to health; noxious. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:24:02 GMT |
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| Gist |
–noun
1. the main or essential part of a matter: What was the gist of his speech?
2. the ground of a legal action.
—Synonyms 1. essence, point, substance, burden, kernel, import. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:24:02 GMT |
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| Rapacious |
–adjective
1. given to seizing for plunder or the satisfaction of greed.
2. inordinately greedy; predatory; extortionate: a rapacious disposition.
3. (of animals) subsisting by the capture of living prey; predacious.
—Synonyms 2. ravenous, voracious, grasping; preying. See avaricious.
—Antonyms 2. generous. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:24:02 GMT |
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| Imperiousness |
–adjective
1. domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing: an imperious manner; an imperious person.
2. urgent; imperative: imperious need.
—Synonyms 1. tyrannical, despotic, arrogant. 2. necessary.
—Antonyms 1. submissive. 2. unnecessary. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:11:20 GMT |
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| Buttress |
–noun
1. any external prop or support built to steady a structure by opposing its outward thrusts, esp. a projecting support built into or against the outside of a masonry wall.
2. any prop or support.
3. a thing shaped like a buttress, as a tree trunk with a widening base.
4. a bony or horny protuberance, esp. on a horse's hoof.
–verb (used with object)
5. to support by a buttress; prop up.
6. to give encouragement or support to (a person, plan, etc.).
—Synonyms 6. encourage, hearten, support, inspirit, brace, back up, reinforce, shore up. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:11:20 GMT |
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| Partisan |
–noun
1. an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, esp. a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance.
2. Military. a member of a party of light or irregular troops engaged in harassing an enemy, esp. a member of a guerrilla band engaged in fighting or sabotage against an occupying army.
–adjective
3. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of partisans; partial to a specific party, person, etc.: partisan politics.
4. of, pertaining to, or carried on by military partisans or guerrillas.
—Synonyms 1. See follower. 3. biased, prejudiced.
—Antonyms 1. opponent. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:11:20 GMT |
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| Pundit |
1. a learned person, expert, or authority.
2. a person who makes comments or judgments, esp. in an authoritative manner; critic or commentator.
3. pandit.
—Synonyms 1. sage, guru, savant. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:11:20 GMT |
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| Mercenary |
–adjective
1. working or acting merely for money or other reward; venal.
2. hired to serve in a foreign army, guerrilla organization, etc.
–noun
3. a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.
4. any hireling.
—Synonyms 1. grasping, acquisitive, avaricious, covetous.
—Antonyms 1. altruistic, idealistic, unselfish. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:02:23 GMT |
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| Philistine |
noun
1. (sometimes initial capital letter) a person who is lacking in or hostile or smugly indifferent to cultural values, intellectual pursuits, aesthetic refinement, etc., or is contentedly commonplace in ideas and tastes.
2. (initial capital letter) a native or inhabitant of ancient Philistia.
–adjective
3. (sometimes initial capital letter) lacking in or hostile to culture.
4. smugly commonplace or conventional.
5. (initial capital letter) of or belonging to the ancient Philistines.
—Synonyms 1. Babbitt, vulgarian. 3. lowbrow. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:02:23 GMT |
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| Turpitude |
–noun
1. vile, shameful, or base character; depravity.
2. a vile or depraved act.
—Synonyms 1. wickedness, vice, vileness, wrongdoing. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:02:23 GMT |
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| Viscid |
–adjective
1. having a glutinous consistency; sticky; adhesive; viscous.
2. Botany. covered by a sticky substance. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:02:23 GMT |
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| Bogus |
–adjective
1. not genuine; counterfeit; spurious; sham.
–noun
2. Printing, Journalism. matter set, by union requirement, by a compositor and later discarded, duplicating the text of an advertisement for which a plate has been supplied or type set by another publisher.
—Synonyms 1. fraudulent, pseudo, fake, phony. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:39:10 GMT |
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| Peccadillo |
–noun, plural -loes, -los.
a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault.
[Origin: 1585–95; < Sp pecadillo, dim. of pecado sin < L peccātum transgression, n. use of neut. of ptp. of peccāre to err, offend]
—Synonyms lapse, slip, faux pas, indiscretion. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:39:10 GMT |
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| Epithet |
–noun
1. any word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe an actual or attributed quality: “Richard the Lion-Hearted” is an epithet of Richard I.
2. a characterizing word or phrase firmly associated with a person or thing and often used in place of an actual name, title, or the like, as “man's best friend” for “dog.”
3. a word, phrase, or expression used invectively as a term of abuse or contempt, to express hostility, etc.
[Origin: 1570–80; < L epitheton
—Synonyms 1, 2. nickname, sobriquet, designation, appellation. 3. curse, insult, abuse, expletive, obscenity. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:39:10 GMT |
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| Circumspect |
–adjective
1. watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent: circumspect behavior.
2. well-considered: circumspect ambition.
—Synonyms 1. careful, vigilant, guarded.
—Antonyms 1. careless, indiscreet. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:39:10 GMT |
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| Euphemism |
–noun
1. the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt.
2. the expression so substituted: “To pass away” is a euphemism for “to die.” |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:55:08 GMT |
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| Emaciation |
–noun
1. abnormal thinness caused by lack of nutrition or by disease.
2. the process of emaciating. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:55:08 GMT |
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| Epicure |
–noun
1. a person who cultivates a refined taste, esp. in food and wine; connoisseur.
2. Archaic. a person dedicated to sensual enjoyment.
—Synonyms 1. gastronome, gourmet, epicurean. 2. voluptuary, sensualist, gourmand.
—Antonyms 1. ascetic. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:55:08 GMT |
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| Equivocal |
–adjective
1. allowing the possibility of several different meanings, as a word or phrase, esp. with intent to deceive or misguide; susceptible of double interpretation; deliberately ambiguous: an equivocal answer.
2. of doubtful nature or character; questionable; dubious; suspicious: aliens of equivocal loyalty.
3. of uncertain significance; not determined: an equivocal attitude.
—Synonyms 1. See ambiguous. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:55:08 GMT |
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| Concur |
–verb (used without object), -curred, -cur·ring.
1. to accord in opinion; agree: Do you concur with his statement?
2. to cooperate; work together; combine; be associated: Members of both parties concurred.
3. to coincide; occur at the same time: His graduation concurred with his birthday.
4. Obsolete. to run or come together; converge. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:59:12 GMT |
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| Gainsay |
–verb (used with object), -said, -say·ing.
1. to deny, dispute, or contradict.
2. to speak or act against; oppose. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:59:12 GMT |
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| Harrow |
–noun
1. an agricultural implement with spikelike teeth or upright disks, drawn chiefly over plowed land to level it, break up clods, root up weeds, etc.
–verb (used with object)
2. to draw a harrow over (land).
3. to disturb keenly or painfully; distress the mind, feelings, etc., of.
–verb (used without object)
4. to become broken up by harrowing, as soil. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:59:12 GMT |
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| Dross |
–noun
1. waste matter; refuse.
2. Metallurgy. a waste product taken off molten metal during smelting, essentially metallic in character.
3. British. coal of little value. |
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eruditej Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:59:12 GMT |
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| Despotic |
–adjective
of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a despot or despotism; autocratic; tyrannical.
Also, des·pot·i·cal. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:59:50 GMT |
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| Abridge |
verb (used with object), a·bridged, a·bridg·ing.
1. to shorten by omissions while retaining the basic contents: to abridge a reference book.
2. to reduce or lessen in duration, scope, authority, etc.; diminish; curtail: to abridge a visit; to abridge one's freedom.
3. to deprive; cut off. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:59:50 GMT |
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| Feint |
–noun
1. a movement made in order to deceive an adversary; an attack aimed at one place or point merely as a distraction from the real place or point of attack: military feints; the feints of a skilled fencer.
2. a feigned or assumed appearance: His air of approval was a feint to conceal his real motives.
–verb (used without object)
3. to make a feint.
–verb (used with object)
4. to make a feint at; deceive with a feint.
5. to make a false show of; simulate. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:59:50 GMT |
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| Abacus |
1. a device for making arithmetic calculations, consisting of a frame set with rods on which balls or beads are moved.
2. Architecture. a slab forming the top of the capital of a column.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L: board, counting board, re-formed < Gk ábax] |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:59:50 GMT |
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| raconteur |
a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:19:00 GMT |
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| Limn |
–verb (used with object)
1. to represent in drawing or painting.
2. to portray in words; describe.
3. Obsolete. to illuminate (manuscripts). |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:18:59 GMT |
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| Affability |
–adjective
1. pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly; cordial; warmly polite: an affable and courteous gentleman.
2. showing warmth and friendliness; benign; pleasant: an affable smile.
—Synonyms 1. See civil |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:18:59 GMT |
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| Urbane |
–adjective
1. having the polish and suavity regarded as characteristic of sophisticated social life in major cities: an urbane manner.
2. reflecting elegance, sophistication, etc., esp. in expression: He maintained an urbane tone in his letters.
—Synonyms 1. suave, cosmopolitan. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:18:59 GMT |
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| Imbroglio |
–noun, plural -glios.
1. a misunderstanding, disagreement, etc., of a complicated or bitter nature, as between persons or nations.
2. an intricate and perplexing state of affairs; a complicated or difficult situation.
3. a confused heap. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:31:47 GMT |
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| Taut |
–adjective, -er, -est.
1. tightly drawn; tense; not slack.
2. emotionally or mentally strained or tense: taut nerves.
3. in good order or condition; tidy; neat.
—Synonyms 3. trim, trig, spruce, smart. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:31:47 GMT |
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| Jocular |
–adjective
given to, characterized by, intended for, or suited to joking or jesting; waggish; facetious: jocular remarks about opera stars.
—Synonyms See jovial. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:31:47 GMT |
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| Sententious |
–adjective
1. abounding in pithy aphorisms or maxims: a sententious book.
2. given to excessive moralizing; self-righteous.
3. given to or using pithy sayings or maxims: a sententious poet.
4. of the nature of a maxim; pithy.
—Synonyms 2. preachy, didactic, sanctimonious, moralistic. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:31:47 GMT |
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| Extirpate |
1. to remove or destroy totally; do away with; exterminate.
2. to pull up by or as if by the roots; root up: to extirpate an unwanted hair. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:26:17 GMT |
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| Salutary |
–adjective
1. favorable to or promoting health; healthful.
2. promoting or conducive to some beneficial purpose; wholesome.
—Synonyms 1. salubrious. See healthy. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:26:17 GMT |
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| Desultory |
Definition: wavering, unsteady; erratic
Etymology: Latin de- + salire 'to leap' |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:26:17 GMT |
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| Recondite |
–adjective
1. dealing with very profound, difficult, or abstruse subject matter: a recondite treatise.
2. beyond ordinary knowledge or understanding; esoteric: recondite principles.
3. little known; obscure: a recondite fact.
—Synonyms 2. deep. 3. mysterious, occult, secret.
—Antonyms 2. exoteric. 3. well-known. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:26:16 GMT |
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| Execrate |
–verb (used with object)
1. to detest utterly; abhor; abominate.
2. to curse; imprecate evil upon; damn; denounce: He execrated all who opposed him.
–verb (used without object)
3. to utter curses. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:20:21 GMT |
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| Exegesis |
critical explanation or interpretation of a text or portion of a text, esp. of the Bible. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:20:21 GMT |
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| Expiate |
–verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.
to atone for; make amends or reparation for: to expiate one's crimes. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:20:21 GMT |
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| Disinter |
–verb (used with object), -terred, -ter·ring.
1. to take out of the place of interment; exhume; unearth.
2. to bring from obscurity into view: The actor's autobiography disinterred a past era. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:20:21 GMT |
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| Apotheosis |
1. the elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god.
2. the ideal example; epitome; quintessence: This poem is the apotheosis of lyric expression. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:28:02 GMT |
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| Excoriate |
–verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.
1. to denounce or berate severely; flay verbally: He was excoriated for his mistakes.
2. to strip off or remove the skin from: Her palms were excoriated by the hard labor of shoveling. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:28:02 GMT |
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| Hoodwink |
–verb (used with object)
1. to deceive or trick.
2. Archaic. to blindfold.
3. Obsolete. to cover or hide.
—Synonyms 1. dupe, cheat, swindle, gyp. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:28:02 GMT |
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| Remonstrate |
–verb (used with object)
1. to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval.
2. Obsolete. to show.
–verb (used without object)
3. to present reasons in complaint; plead in protest. |
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eruditej Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:28:02 GMT |
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| Salacious |
–adjective
1. lustful or lecherous.
2. (of writings, pictures, etc.) obscene; grossly indecent.
—Synonyms 1. lewd, wanton, lascivious, libidinous. 2. pornographic.
—Antonyms 1. modest. |
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eruditej Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:50:51 GMT |
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| Squelch |
–verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.
1. to impair the quality of; make faulty; spoil.
2. to impair or weaken the effectiveness of.
3. to debase; corrupt; pervert.
4. to make legally defective or invalid; invalidate: to vitiate a claim. |
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eruditej Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:50:51 GMT |
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| Vitiate |
–verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.
1. to impair the quality of; make faulty; spoil.
2. to impair or weaken the effectiveness of.
3. to debase; corrupt; pervert.
4. to make legally defective or invalid; invalidate: to vitiate a claim. |
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eruditej Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:50:51 GMT |
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| Bequeathing |
1. Law To leave or give (personal property) by will.
2. To pass (something) on to another; hand down: bequeathed to their children a respect for hard work. |
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eruditej Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:50:51 GMT |
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| Ornateness |
–adjective
1. elaborately or sumptuously adorned, often excessively or showily so: They bought an ornate Louis XIV sofa.
2. embellished with rhetoric; florid or high-flown: an ornate style of writing.
—Synonyms 1. showy, ostentatious; rich, lavish. |
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eruditej Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:44:56 GMT |
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| Waft |
–verb (used with object)
1. to carry lightly and smoothly through the air or over water: The gentle breeze wafted the sound of music to our ears.
2. to send or convey lightly, as if in flight: The actress wafted kisses to her admirers in the audience.
3. Obsolete. to signal to, summon, or direct by waving.
–verb (used without object)
4. to float or be carried, esp. through the air: The sound wafted on the breeze. The music wafted across the lake.
–noun
5. a sound, odor, etc., faintly perceived: a waft of perfume.
6. a wafting movement; light current or gust: a waft of air. |
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eruditej Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:44:56 GMT |
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| Stark |
adverb
–adjective
1. sheer, utter, downright, or complete: stark madness.
2. harsh, grim, or desolate, as a view, place, etc.: a stark landscape.
3. extremely simple or severe: a stark interior.
—Synonyms 2, 3. See austere, bare. |
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eruditej Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:44:56 GMT |
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| Prudish |
–adjective
1. excessively proper or modest in speech, conduct, dress, etc.
2. characteristic of a prude.
—Synonyms 1. reserved, coy. |
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eruditej Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:44:56 GMT |
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| Slight |
—Synonyms 2. insignificant, trifling, paltry. 3. See slender. 4. weak, feeble, fragile. 5. unsubstantial, inconsiderable. 6. disdain, scorn. Slight, disregard, neglect, overlook mean to pay no attention or too little attention to someone or something. To slight is to give only superficial attention to something important: to slight one's work. To disregard is to pay no attention to a person or thing: to disregard the rules; in some circumstances, to disregard may be admirable: to disregard a handicap. To neglect is to shirk paying sufficient attention to a person or thing: to neglect one's correspondence. To overlook is to fail to see someone or something (possibly because of carelessness): to overlook a bill that is due. 9. neglect, disregard, inattention; disdain, scorn. 10. See insult.
—Antonyms 1. considerable. |
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eruditej Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:37:45 GMT |
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| Nonplussed |
–verb (used with object)
1. to render utterly perplexed; puzzle completely.
–noun
2. a state of utter perplexity.
[Origin: 1575–85; (n.) < L nōn plūs lit., not more, no further, i.e., a state in which nothing more can be done]
—Synonyms 1. perplex, confuse, confound, disconcert. |
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eruditej Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:37:45 GMT |
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| Nadir |
–noun
1. Astronomy. the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath a given position or observer and diametrically opposite the zenith.
2. Astrology. the point of a horoscope opposite the midheaven: the cusp of the fourth house.
3. the lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME ≪ Ar naẓīr over against, opposite to (the zenith)]
—Synonyms 3. bottom, floor, foot, depths. |
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eruditej Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:37:45 GMT |
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| Meretricious |
–adjective
1. alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry.
2. based on pretense, deception, or insincerity.
3. pertaining to or characteristic of a prostitute.
—Synonyms 1. showy, gaudy. 2. spurious, sham, false. |
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eruditej Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:37:45 GMT |
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